AFC Champions League Elite Gameweek 2, West
Al-Gharafa 2 - 0 FT Al Shorta
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Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Oct 25
Barcelona
1-2
Real Madrid
⚡ Intensity
68
⚖️ Balance
42
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
60
Mbappé breaks El Clásico late
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
48' Joselu (Y. Brahimi)
54' F. Sassi (Y. Brahimi)
↓ A. Qasim ↑B. Moumouni 68'
↓ Leonel Ateba ↑A. Farhan 68'
↓ M. Sadoun ↑S. Abdulkadhim 69'
73' ↓ A. Al Ganehi ↑F. Coman
83' ↓ A. Gunnarsson ↑M. Holgate
↓ M. Ashabi ↑R. Amin 83'
89' ↓ Jang Hyun-Soo ↑D. Traore
90'+2 Joselu
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Al-Gharafa
Goalkeepers
Amine Lecomte 
OCTOPUS
8
Saves
8
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Jang Hyun-soo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Seydou Sano 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Saifeldeen Fadlalla 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
22%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
A. Al Oui
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Fabricio Díaz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ahmed Al Ganehi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
Aron Gunnarsson
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
Ferjani Sassi 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Yacine Brahimi
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
2
Assists
35%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Joselu 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.7
Rating
BENCH
Hamad Kahiout 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Dame Traoré
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rayyan Al Ali
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mason Holgate
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chalpan Abdulnasir
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Florinel Coman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álvaro Djaló
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jamal Mayor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Essam
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Boussafi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jassim Al Zarra
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Al Shorta
Goalkeepers
Ahmed Basil
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Munaf Younus 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Ahmed Yahia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
M. Sadoun
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Ashabi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Qasim
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Al Mawas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dominique Mendy 
MAGNET
95
Activity
95
Activity
86
Passes
9
Duels
Bassam Shakir
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Hussein Ali
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Christian Ateba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
68
Total Mins
68
Entry
BENCH
Rewan Amin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdoul Moumouni
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shareef Abdul Kadhim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hussain Jabar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Raed
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
H. Ahmad
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Farhan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Kareem
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Abdulkhaleq
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Saleh
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Al-Gharafa
Al Shorta
Al-Gharafa
Al Shorta
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Clinical Al-Gharafa Weather the Iraqi Storm
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 21/100. A masterclass in defensive resilience saw Al-Gharafa secure a 2-0 victory despite being outshot and outplayed for long periods by Al Shorta.
Pressure at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium
The atmosphere at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium was electric as the home side looked to steady their continental campaign. However, it was Al Shorta who seized the initiative from the opening whistle. The visitors asserted themselves with a relentless wave of pressure, registering an incredible 13 corners that kept the Qatari defense on high alert. This sustained offensive output contributed to an Intensity rating of 3.8, as the Iraqi side exploited every set-piece opportunity. Despite controlling 59% of the ball, which allowed them to maintain controlled possession, the visitors found the Al-Gharafa defensive block to be remarkably disciplined. The hosts were content to absorb the early onslaught, inviting the pressure while waiting for the precise moment to exploit the space left behind by the attacking Iraqi wingers.
The Goalkeeper Masterclass
The middle phase of the match highlighted a staggering disparity between offensive volume and clinical efficiency. A barrage of 27 shots turned the pitch into a shooting gallery, yet the scoreboard remained skewed in favor of the side that did less with more. The Balance score of 0.9 reflects how the flow of the match was largely one-sided, yet the "Sniper" edge belonged exclusively to Al-Gharafa. Their goalkeeper emerged as the defining figure of the evening, producing 8 vital saves to deny a frustrated Al Shorta front line. While the visitors created 5 big chances, their inability to find the net meant that every failed attempt only added to the mounting pressure. This resilience allowed the hosts to maintain their composure and eventually strike with lethal precision on the break, effectively punishing their opponents for their wastefulness in front of goal.
Resolution and Continental Implications
The final 2-0 scoreline was a harsh reflection for the visitors but a testament to the tactical discipline of the home side. For Al-Gharafa, the Stakes rating of 1.0 underscores the importance of these three points in the race for the knockout stages. The victory provides a necessary boost to their morale after a difficult run of form earlier in the season. Conversely, for Al Shorta, the result leaves them in a precarious position at the bottom of the group. Despite an Upset Factor of 0.0, which suggested the result was expected, the narrative of the match was far from routine. The Iraqi side will leave Qatar wondering how they failed to score from 19 attempts, while the hosts celebrate a professional performance that prioritized results over aesthetics. The win moves the Qatari side up the standings, while the search for a maiden win continues for the visitors.
Key Questions
How significant was the goalkeeper's performance?
The Al-Gharafa goalkeeper was the standout performer, making 8 saves to keep a clean sheet against a barrage of 19 shots from Al Shorta.
Did possession reflect the final result?
No, Al Shorta controlled 59% of possession and earned 13 corners, but Al-Gharafa were clinical, scoring twice from just 4 shots on target.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
A Desperate Scramble for Continental Survival
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 9/100. This is a high-stakes struggle for relevance between two sides whose continental ambitions are hanging by a thread after a dismal start to the campaign.
The Setup
As the AFC Champions League enters its second matchday of the league phase, the narrative at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium is already one of survival. Al-Gharafa enters this fixture sitting in 10th place, having managed just two wins from their last seven outings. Their defensive record is a major concern, leaking 19 goals in that span. However, their situation looks favorable compared to Al Shorta, who occupy 11th place and are yet to record a single victory this season. With a Stakes rating of 1.0, the match lacks the glamour of a final, but for these two, it is effectively a knockout tie where the loser faces virtual elimination from playoff contention.
Key Battle
The tactical heart of this match lies in whether Al-Gharafa’s attacking unit can dismantle a retreating defensive block. The hosts will rely heavily on the creative output of F. Díaz and F. Coman to unlock a stubborn, if occasionally brittle, away defense. Without marquee names in the visitors' lineup to spearhead a counter-attack, the pressure will be entirely on the home side to dictate the tempo. A Stars score of 1.9 highlights the lack of individual brilliance on display, suggesting a game that will be won through collective industry rather than moments of magic.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey, low-scoring affair defined by nerves rather than clinical finishing. Al-Gharafa possess the slight edge in quality with Álvaro Djaló capable of stretching the play, but their Form rating of 3.8 suggests they are far from peak efficiency. The most likely scenario is a narrow home win, perhaps 1-0, as the hosts exploit a single defensive lapse from a winless Al Shorta side that has struggled to find the back of the net all season.